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Authors: Nicola Moriarty
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whispered when a pair of guys headed over to challenge them for the table. ‘We’re going to kick their arses and I probably won’t even have to sink a single ball.’
It was at the end of the second game that things started to go wrong. At first, India had been enjoying the playful banter between herself and one of the guys – the tall blond one – as Hannah had continued to confidently pocket one ball after another. But then she began to notice a change in his demeanour. He wasn’t enjoying losing. And the more irritated he became with the game, the more aggressively he began to flirt with her.
‘Okay,’ she said lightly as they watched Hannah sink the black yet again. ‘That’s it, we gave you best of three and you still lost. Time to take a hike.’ She moved pointedly around the other side of the table and Hannah looked up at her, seeming to suddenly become aware of India’s tone.
‘Or we could just go if you like?’ Hannah suggested.
‘Best of five,’ said the tall blond, while his friend shrugged and looked bored. He circled the table and positioned himself in between Hannah and India. ‘Your friend here can keep carrying the game for you and we can get to know each other a bit better.’ He stepped in close and placed his hands on her hips. India tried to pull back, but his fingers tightened. ‘I’m not going to lose with you as well,’ he whispered in her ear.
India was holding still, trying to decide what the best course of action was going to be – knee him in the balls maybe? – when she felt another hand close around her arm and she was yanked sideways. Before she had realised what was happening, there was a set of soft lips on hers. Her brain took a moment to register. Wait a second, was Hannah kissing her? They pulled apart and then Hannah turned away from her to face the ape of a guy who had moments ago had his hands creeping towards India’s backside. ‘Sorry, buddy, but she’s not your type,’ Hannah said firmly. With that, she swung back around, grabbed India by the hand and strode out of the pub.
Outside on their way back through the beer garden India stopped to stare in amazement at Hannah. ‘What is it?’ Hannah asked, turning back to look at her. ‘Am I a bad kisser?’ she asked worriedly. India burst out laughing. ‘Hannah!’ she exclaimed. ‘What the hell was that?’
‘I thought you needed help. I couldn’t think what else to do. Sorry – should I not have done that?’ she asked.
‘No, it’s fine – you just, took me by surprise, that’s all. You realise you’ve been like a completely different person tonight, right?’
‘Well, you were the one who told me to loosen up. Oh and I know what you’re going to say next and the answer is no.’
‘No what?’
‘No you haven’t just figured out my secret – I’m not gay, so you don’t need to help me come out, okay?’
They both dissolved into laughter then and as they made their way down the road, India thought, I think I just made a new best friend.
He had been watching the guy for a little over half an hour, just observing – fairly sure he was doing so unnoticed.
Definitely gay, he decided. But in the closet still. Shame. He was cute in an ‘I’m fit and I fucking know it’ kind of way. James knew there was no point trying to chat him up though; the guy would probably run a mile. Man, he wished more guys would just get their shit together and come out already. He was getting sick of being single.
As James watched, the guy pulled an envelope out of his inside jacket pocket and tapped the edge of the table top with it. He seemed to be weighing something up in his mind. Suddenly he gave a derisive snort, shook his head and crumpled the envelope up in his fist. He tossed it onto the table next to his empty coffee mug and stood up, causing his chair to scrape noisily across the tiles as he did. He strode out of the café and James smiled to himself as he noticed the guy’s eyes flick
It was at the end of the second game that things started to go wrong. At first, India had been enjoying the playful banter between herself and one of the guys – the tall blond one – as Hannah had continued to confidently pocket one ball after another. But then she began to notice a change in his demeanour. He wasn’t enjoying losing. And the more irritated he became with the game, the more aggressively he began to flirt with her.
‘Okay,’ she said lightly as they watched Hannah sink the black yet again. ‘That’s it, we gave you best of three and you still lost. Time to take a hike.’ She moved pointedly around the other side of the table and Hannah looked up at her, seeming to suddenly become aware of India’s tone.
‘Or we could just go if you like?’ Hannah suggested.
‘Best of five,’ said the tall blond, while his friend shrugged and looked bored. He circled the table and positioned himself in between Hannah and India. ‘Your friend here can keep carrying the game for you and we can get to know each other a bit better.’ He stepped in close and placed his hands on her hips. India tried to pull back, but his fingers tightened. ‘I’m not going to lose with you as well,’ he whispered in her ear.
India was holding still, trying to decide what the best course of action was going to be – knee him in the balls maybe? – when she felt another hand close around her arm and she was yanked sideways. Before she had realised what was happening, there was a set of soft lips on hers. Her brain took a moment to register. Wait a second, was Hannah kissing her? They pulled apart and then Hannah turned away from her to face the ape of a guy who had moments ago had his hands creeping towards India’s backside. ‘Sorry, buddy, but she’s not your type,’ Hannah said firmly. With that, she swung back around, grabbed India by the hand and strode out of the pub.
Outside on their way back through the beer garden India stopped to stare in amazement at Hannah. ‘What is it?’ Hannah asked, turning back to look at her. ‘Am I a bad kisser?’ she asked worriedly. India burst out laughing. ‘Hannah!’ she exclaimed. ‘What the hell was that?’
‘I thought you needed help. I couldn’t think what else to do. Sorry – should I not have done that?’ she asked.
‘No, it’s fine – you just, took me by surprise, that’s all. You realise you’ve been like a completely different person tonight, right?’
‘Well, you were the one who told me to loosen up. Oh and I know what you’re going to say next and the answer is no.’
‘No what?’
‘No you haven’t just figured out my secret – I’m not gay, so you don’t need to help me come out, okay?’
They both dissolved into laughter then and as they made their way down the road, India thought, I think I just made a new best friend.
He had been watching the guy for a little over half an hour, just observing – fairly sure he was doing so unnoticed.
Definitely gay, he decided. But in the closet still. Shame. He was cute in an ‘I’m fit and I fucking know it’ kind of way. James knew there was no point trying to chat him up though; the guy would probably run a mile. Man, he wished more guys would just get their shit together and come out already. He was getting sick of being single.
As James watched, the guy pulled an envelope out of his inside jacket pocket and tapped the edge of the table top with it. He seemed to be weighing something up in his mind. Suddenly he gave a derisive snort, shook his head and crumpled the envelope up in his fist. He tossed it onto the table next to his empty coffee mug and stood up, causing his chair to scrape noisily across the tiles as he did. He strode out of the café and James smiled to himself as he noticed the guy’s eyes flick
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